Remembering Cary Grant

It has been 35 years since the death of beloved screen icon Cary Grant, who passed away aged 82 on 29 November 1986. Born Archibald Leach on 18 January 1904, Grant took the name 'Cary Grant' at the request of Paramount Studios who signed the actor in the early 1930s. Hollywood legend says that he...

Rear Window – A captivating story of a Peeping Tom that keeps you guessing

Rear Window is a film that I had been aware of for many years but had only recently watched following my newfound love of films from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring James Stewart and Grace Kelly, Rear Window tells the story of a wheelchair-bound photographer, L.B. 'Jeff' Jefferies (Stewart), recuperating...

To Catch a Thief review – A beautiful film but your attention might start to wander

Cary Grant and Grace Kelly are a dream pairing, but when you add diamonds, burglary and the French Riviera into the mix, you suddenly have a hefty amount of glamour and intrigue. To Catch a Thief, released in 1955 and directed by Alfred Hitchcock, sees Grant's John Robie, a retired cat burglar, accused of a...

Casablanca review – A great film worthy of its acclaim providing a snapshot of a difficult period in history

Casablanca has an emotive plot, set against World War II and the impact it had on refugees and the ability to travel. The eclectic, multinational clientele of Rick's Bar reveals German officers rubbing shoulders with petty criminals and gamblers. After knowing the iconic lines "Here's looking at you, kid" and "Of all the gin joints in...

High Society review – A fun treat starring three greats from the Golden Age of Hollywood

High Society (1956) Director: Charles Walters Starring: Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra Socialite Tracy Lord (Kelly) is getting married, however her first husband, C. K. Dexter (Crosby), is still in love with her and when a journalist (Sinatra) arrives to cover the nuptials, Tracy suddenly has more than one suitor vying for her attention....

Brief Encounter review – A beautiful film written with only the most perfect words from the English language

Brief Encounter (1945) Director: David Lean Starring: Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard Protagonists Laura Jesson and Dr Alec Harvey repeatedly meet by chance and, although married to other people, embark on a short affair that neither one of them will ever forget. Winner of the Grand Prize of the Festival at the Cannes Film Festival (1946) Nominated...